I have my ticket for the 24th, too. Upstairs in the dome car this year!

Whenever this locomotive visits nearby, you can bet I go to see it, or, rather pay homage to it. After all, NKP 765 knew me as a kid; it went by right next to my house! Riding behind, or just seeing the 765 makes me deeply grateful for the countless people behind the scenes who make this happen. These fantrips give such pleasure to so many people!

When steam engines came to an end on the Nickel Plate in 1958, I thought the bottom had fallen out of the world. If you had told me then that I would ride again, many times, behind 765 in the future, never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined it. Perhaps if we can't exactly go home again, we can come fairly close by visiting the old neighborhood.

Heartfelt thanks to all those who keep steam engines "alive" in America.

Pleased to see a zillion people turned out in 90 degree weather to watch and/or ride the NKP 765 on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad today (Sun. 9/24). Gott sei danke, the train's air conditioning seemed to be working perfectly! Thank you, CVSR mechanics!

The crew of the 765 couldn't have been nicer: offering to shake hands, answering interesting as well as stupid questions with informative, dignified answers, etc.; even thanking passengers for buying tickets! What gentlemen! The crew was dressed in black cotton long-sleeved uniforms in the ghastly heat, but they seemed OK with it. One crewman told me that the engine cab at least had shade, while we railfans broiled in the withering sun during the two impressive run-bys.

Only disappointment was the ride didn't go as far north from Akron as in previous years, but that's not too important.

Nonetheless, at the risk of stating the obvious, riding in a dome car behind the largest steam locomotive operating east of the Mississippi was a real kick. Watching the engine and her driving rods on the curves, listening to the whistle, seeing hundreds of people of all ages with delight written all over their faces, reassured me of the place steam engines and railroads in general have in the heart of the American people.

I have my ticket for the 24th, too. Upstairs in the dome car this year!

Whenever this locomotive visits nearby, you can bet I go to see it, or, rather pay homage to it. After all, NKP 765 knew me as a kid; it went by right next to my house! Riding behind, or just seeing the 765 makes me deeply grateful for the countless people behind the scenes who make this happen. These fantrips give such pleasure to so many people!

When steam engines came to an end on the Nickel Plate in 1958, I thought the bottom had fallen out of the world. If you had told me then that I would ride again, many times, behind 765 in the future, never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined it. Perhaps if we can't exactly go home again, we can come fairly close by visiting the old neighborhood.

Heartfelt thanks to all those who keep steam engines "alive" in America.

Pleased to see a zillion people turned out in 90 degree weather to watch and/or ride the NKP 765 on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad today (Sun. 9/24). Gott sei danke, the train's air conditioning seemed to be working perfectly! Thank you, CVSR mechanics!

The crew of the 765 couldn't have been nicer: offering to shake hands, answering interesting as well as stupid questions with informative, dignified answers, etc.; even thanking passengers for buying tickets! What gentlemen! The crew was dressed in black cotton long-sleeved uniforms in the ghastly heat, but they seemed OK with it. One crewman told me that the engine cab at least had shade, while we railfans broiled in the withering sun during the two impressive run-bys.

Only disappointment was the ride didn't go as far north from Akron as in previous years, but that's not too important.

Nonetheless, at the risk of stating the obvious, riding in a dome car behind the largest steam locomotive operating east of the Mississippi was a real kick. Watching the engine and her driving rods on the curves, listening to the whistle, seeing hundreds of people of all ages with delight written all over their faces, reassured me of the place steam engines and railroads in general have in the heart of the American people.

A great day to be a railfan and especially a passenger.

Bravo sir! You hit all the reasons steam will never die. Once exposed, people just love them too much to let them go away.

I wouldn't know about that. I was exposed to steam in my youth (NKP Berks in regular service, no less) and I can take it or leave it. First-generation diesels are a different story, though. I really enjoyed seeing a quartet of F's coming out of the early morning gloom with the NS business train while my train waited for it to pass.

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it.
Paul

I wouldn't know about that. I was exposed to steam in my youth (NKP Berks in regular service, no less) and I can take it or leave it. First-generation diesels are a different story, though. I really enjoyed seeing a quartet of F's coming out of the early morning gloom with the NS business train while my train waited for it to pass.

although I was exposed to the twilight if steam, I share the same emotions with early and second generation Diesel. Chasing the d&h PA's on thier final standing pulling the Adirondack along the Hudson river on thier way to Canada was a sight to behold.

Lucky on the the cvsr when the # 765 is thier you can catch both. On Sunday 9/17 csvr regularly scheduled train from Akron was pulled by one of thier restores fa a, soon followed by an alco hauling the steam excursions north, with 765 bringing up the rear.

What a great morning, thanks cvsr and the 765 people's for pulling it off.

My wife bought dome car tickets for the 16th. Being in a fully enclosed car meant we could barely hear the whistle. Watching smoke drift directly over your head made up for it, though. Looking out directly over the tops of the other cars into the canopy of the forest was also a unique view.

NKP guy,

Did they clean the windows on the dome for your trip? They were quite cloudy on our trip to the point the grime was clearly visible in my photos through them. I also wonder if they re-arranged the cars as the dome was back far enough, it was difficult to see the rods while going around curves. (the conditions of the windows may have added to that difficulty)

My wife bought dome car tickets for the 16th. Being in a fully enclosed car meant we could barely hear the whistle. Watching smoke drift directly over your head made up for it, though. Looking out directly over the tops of the other cars into the canopy of the forest was also a unique view.

NKP guy,

Did they clean the windows on the dome for your trip? They were quite cloudy on our trip to the point the grime was clearly visible in my photos through them. I also wonder if they re-arranged the cars as the dome was back far enough, it was difficult to see the rods while going around curves. (the conditions of the windows may have added to that difficulty)

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Your wife bought you both dome car tickets? Does she have a sister??

The dome's windows were pretty filthy on the 24th, too; this was a disappointment. It hasn't rained in northern Ohio in a few weeks; the smoke from the first weekend and the lack of a cleansing rain didn't help. Also, my trip was at 11:15, so the sun was nearly directly overhead the entire time, increasing the glare effect. Like you, I really enjoyed seeing the smoke all along the way and the driving rods were visible on the tighter curves.

The CVSR right of way this time of year can seem like one long green tunnel the train is passing through. The leaves and branches are usually very close to the car and this gives the CVSR staff the willies when one wants to lean out of the dutch doors. As a consequence, one would have to put one's head out the open windows of the two ancient NKP coaches to best experience the engine and train as railfans prefer (those who have their goggles, anyway), and I don't think it's very comfortable to ride that way for long. The CVSR used to have a baggage car with four open doors equipped with wooden slats to lean on; they used to care less about the dutch doors, too. I suppose the lawyers ruined all that (as they have so much else that used to be fun).

I chose an upstairs seat in the dome car because it offered the best continuous views for a railfan; it was placed about five cars behind the engine. There is simply nothing like riding in a dome car! I could see well in all four directions and I went away thinking that whatever the limitations of riding through a leafy tube, I had the best seat in the house.

Next year, however, I might bring a hose and long-handled brush to clean the dome's windows myself!

When we rode on the 16th, the dome was more than 5 cars from 765. I hate to say it, that was the biggest disappointment (if there is such a thing on a steam train ride) besides the inability of people to respect the photo-line at the run-by. For the price paid to ride in the dome, it shouldn't be BYOS. "bring your own sqeegee." [:-,

I only bring it up, not to complain or cast anyone in a bad light, (logistics can be an issue) but as a place they could improve the experience.

When we rode on the 16th, the dome was more than 5 cars from 765. I hate to say it, that was the biggest disappointment (if there is such a thing on a steam train ride) besides the inability of people to respect the photo-line at the run-by. For the price paid to ride in the dome, it shouldn't be BYOS. "bring your own sqeegee." [:-,

I only bring it up, not to complain or cast anyone in a bad light, (logistics can be an issue) but as a place they could improve the experience.

Mike I had the same issue on the train. I reserved early got the front two seats and windows were not cleaned from the day before. I mentioned it the car attendent. They let me ride in the nkp # 90 heavyweight coach. The trip was great either way.

From then on I either reserve in the obs car or one of the heavy weights.